The effect of solute additions on the steady-state creep behavior of dispersion-strengthened aluminum.

The effect of solute additions on the steady-state creep behavior of coarse-grained dispersion-strengthened aluminum alloys was studied. Recrystallized dispersion-strengthened solid solutions were found to have stress and temperature sensitivities quite unlike those observed in single-phase solid solutions having the same composition and grain size. The addition of magnesium or copper to the matrix of a recrystallized dispersion-strengthened aluminum causes a decrease in the steady-state creep rate which is much smaller than that caused by similar amounts of solute in single-phase solid solutions. All alloys exhibited essentially a 4.0 power stress exponent in agreement with the model of Ansell and Weertman. The activation energy for steady-state creep in dispersion-strengthened Al-Mg alloys, as well as the stress dependence, was in agreement with the physical model of dislocation climb over the dispersed particles.